Fundraising exhibition homage to rock hero David Bowie - just for one day

Bob Follen is curating the exhibition. Picture: Charles Round

Published:15:00Thursday 18 February 2016

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Music fans are invited to drop into Todmorden to see rare images and memorabilia of a rock hero - just for one day.

The legendary David Bowie passed away in January, and to raise money to be split between the Calderdale Flood Relief and Cancer Research UK charities, an exhibition of memorabilia, live photos, clothing, posters, and assorted ephemera featuring the career of the Thin White Duke is being showcased between 10am and 3pm in the Court Room at Todmorden Town Hall, Halifax Road, on Saturday, February 20.

Called Aladdin Tod: A Celebration of Bowie, many of the pieces are from the collection of Todmorden artist Bob Follen, and a highlight will be some previously unseen photographs of Bowie on his now legendary Ziggy Stardust tour which ran through 1972 and 1973, which were taken at the tour’s Free Trade Hall, Manchester, gig by another Todmorden resident Ken Potts.

Ken’s home suffered flooding in the Boxing Day floods, as did Bob, but the prints, capturing Bowie and his band The Spiders From Mars on their way to fame, survived.

Bob said he got talking to Ken when he was exhibiting some of his rock based BobArtModels artwork at the Brook Street gallery in Todmorden Market last year.

Entry to the exhibition will be just £2, and it simultaneously pays tribute to one of Bob’s great rock heroes, raises money for two good causes and adds to the events and attractions aimed at encouraging people to come to the Calder Valley towns following the flooding with the message “we are open for business”.

Bob, who has been designing suitably visual backdrops for the material, is delighted that the Bowie-approved website Bowiewonderworld.com has promoted news of the exhibition - and it has been given the blessing of others who loomed large in Bowie’s career.

“I‘ve met a few times, and recently been in touch with, Woody Woodmansey, the drummer from the Spiders From Mars, and he sent me a message from himself and David’s producer Tony Visconti giving the project a big thumbs up,” he said.

All of the items on display are loaned from private collections, are original, fragile, and are not for sale.

There will be an exclusive and extremely limited number of prints and cards to buy on the day, all proceeds once again going to the two charities mentioned.